The Victoria and Albert Museum will open in March David Bowie’s first international retrospective. “David Bowie is” will offer insight into the artist’s early years, tracing the first musical steps of David Robert Jones before he officially adopted the stage name David Bowie in 1965.

The exhibition will chart Bowie’s first musical steps in bands such as The Kon-rads
It will feature Bowie’s first major hit Space Oddity, which coincided with the first moon landing in 1969 and introduced fictional character Major Tom. Previously unseen tour footage, set designs and storyboards from the lavishly produced 1974 Diamond Dogs tour will also be on display. Alongside these will be more personal items such as handwritten set lists, musical scores, word collages and diary entries.

Bowie’s innovative approach to creating albums and touring shows centred around fictionalised stage personas, with 1972 marking the birth of his most famous creation Ziggy Stardust – a human manifestation of an alien being. Ziggy’s androgynous and otherworldly appearance had a powerful influence on pop culture and signalled a challenge of social traditions.

More than 60 stage costumes will be on display, including original Ziggy Stardust bodysuits from 1972 and outfits designed for his Aladdin Sane and Thin White Duke characters

Works by such photographers as Herb Ritts, Helmut Lang, Brian Duffy and Terry O’Neill will also feature

Recently uncovered footage of the artist performing Jean Genie on Top of the Pops in 1973 will also form part of the exhibition, to run from 23 March to 28 July